Apparatus foe cleaning and polishing boots and shoes



(No Model.)

R. AUSTRIAN.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES. N0. 290,386. Patented Dec, 18, 1883. A A .2.

7 aha/116 the fraternity of boot-blacks and the general 7 result is attained by the use of my invention center pivots, A, bearing A and cross-brace llNiTEn STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

RAPHAEL AUSTRIAN, or READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLlSHiNG BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,386, dated December 18, 1883.

' Application filed my 23, 1883. (N0 model.) I

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAPHAEL AUs'rnIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Reading, county of Berks, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boot and Shoe Gleaning and Polishing Machinery, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relatesto a self-contained light machine adapted to be operated by the hand, foot, or belt from any suitable power.

The object of theimprovement is to furnish public with a machine simple in its construction and inexpensive in cost, that will perform the laborious work of cleaning and polishing with ease, rapidity, and effectiveness. This in the form shownin the drawings herewith, forming a part of this specification, similar parts of which are marked with corresponding letters throughout.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 represents the right-hand end of the machine, showingfoot-powerattachment. Fig; 3 is a plan of the base, and a section of the frame just above the same. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the side or cleaning brushes upon the lower spindle. Fig. 5 represents the elastic foot-rest.

-A represents the frame, of the form shown, having foot A, center heads, A offset bend A,

A. The base-a thin hollow casting-is rep resented by B, and is provided with a raised receptacle, 0, for the foot-rest D, resting upon springs E, or the equivalent therefor. F represents a band-wheel; F, the axis of the same; G, a crank either for hand or treadle connection; H, pitman from crank to treadle; I, the treadle; J, treadle-post secured to the base; K, the driving-band; K, driving-band hook; L L, pulleys on spindles; M, the upper spindle; M, the lower spindle; M acollar on the same; N, the upper concave polishing-brush; N", the lower cleaning and polishing brush; P P, side cleaning-brushes; P, recess in the same ,for connection with brush N, being secured thereto by screws.

The construction of the apparatus is simple. The frame, as shown, is cast in one piece with foot A and cross-brace A". The heads A are the lower brushes.

drilled and tapped for the screwed centers A".

the same. The frame is also drilled and tapped on the left-hand side for the adjusting center of the lower spindle, and bored for the same on the right-hand side of the frame. The spindles M M are of suitable size for the work, the

upper one, M, having mounted thereon the usual concave polishing-brush and a drivingpulley, L, the ends of the spindle being ceir tered to receive the centers A", the lower spindle, M, adapted for insertion in the frame by being slipped through the right-hand side. The collar M is then placed thereon, and successively the brushes P N P, the center pivot,

A brought in contact with the center in end of spindle, and the collar M put in contact with the right-hand side frame and secured in place by a set-screw or pin. brought centrally over the foot-rest D and secured, the brushes PPbeing In turn secured 75 to N, the brush N having projections from each end beyond the bristles, and the brushes P P having recesses P to fit the same, so that when secured together an unbroken surface of bristles is presented to the boot or shoe being cleaned or polished. The brush N on the upper spindle is secured centrally thereon, and may be of finer quality of bristles than The spindles M M may be square where they support the brushes, or, if round, the ends of the brushes would be provided with brushes fitted to the spindles and keyed thereto. 7

To operate the machine, if the boot or shoe is on the foot of the person, the whole operation of cleaning and polishing would be'performed upon the lower spindle. The foot being placed upon the rest D, mounted upon springs, as has been described, and the band-wheel F being driven in any convenient manner, the belt K K, being led upon the pulley L of the spindle M, puts the same in motion, when the foot, being oscillated and vibrated upon the rest, accommodates itself to the several movements, bringing all parts of the boot or shoe in contact with the brushes P N P, and effectually cleaning the same. Blacking is then applied, and the same process being gone through, the article is polished; but when the machine "A shouldered pin or axis, F, is providedfor the ban d-wheel, which 1s tapped into the frame and the band-wheelbored to revolve free on' The brush N is then is operated for a hotel, steamboat, &e., the boot or shoe is taken in the hand and presented to the lower brushes for cleaning, and when all cleaned the belt is unhooked and transferred to the upper spindle-pulley, and in turn they are all polished. The spindles M M are placed exactly the same distance from the axis F; therefore the band K may be trans ferred to either spindle-pulley and the same operated by simply unhooking at K, making the change, rehooking, and putting in motion.

I am aware that I am not the first to produce a boot and shoe polishing machine, as there have been a number of the same patented; but to the best of my knowledge all have so far failed of introduction, owing to clumsiness of construction, excessive cost of same, and general incompatibility to satisfactorily do the work required of such a machine. Praetically my machine leaves nothing to be desired in its operation, and the cost, as will be evident from the description, cannot be exeessive.

Having shown the advantage, construction,

and adaptability of my invention. I desire to secure by Letters Patent the following claims thereon:

1. In aboot and shoe polishing apparatus, as shown, the band-wheel F, placed central to the brush-spindles M M, in combination therewith through pulleys L L, and with brushes N and N I P through band K K, all adapted to be operated in any suitable manner, whereby either spindle may be driven from the wheel F without change in the length of belt, substantially as described, and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination, with the concave brush N, of the side brushes, 1 1, provided with recess 1?, and the foot-rest D, spindle M, pulley L, band K K, band-wheel F, and suitable power applied thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

RAPHAEL AUSTRIAX.

\Vitnesses:

- THOMAS 1. KINsEY,

F. PIERCE HUMMEL. 

